The American journal of emergency medicine
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Prolonged emergency department (ED) wait times could potentially lead to increased mortality. Studies have demonstrated that black patients waited significantly longer for ED care than nonblack patients. However, the disparity in wait times need not necessarily manifest across all illness severities. We hypothesize that, on average, black patients wait longer than nonblack patients and that the disparity is more pronounced as illness severity decreases. ⋯ Racial disparity in ED wait times between black and nonblack patients exists, and the size of the disparity is more pronounced as illness severity decreases. We do not find a racial disparity in wait times for critically ill patients.
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Current guideline recommends that immediate coronary angiography (CAG) should be considered in all postcardiac arrest patients in whom acute coronary syndrome is suspected. In the setting of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), obtaining clinical data such as chest discomfort and medical diseases associated with acute coronary syndrome can be difficult. ⋯ In clinical practice, the usefulness of emergency CAG evaluation of OHCA patients without ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction is debatable. We describe 2 OHCA patients who did not exhibit ST-segment elevation after ROSC and received underwent emergency CAG.
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Case Reports
Severe neurologic impairment and uncommon magnetic resonance imaging findings after carbon monoxide poisoning.
Carbon monoxide poisoning is the most common cause of fatal poisoning worldwide and can lead to severe brain damages. We report a delayed encephalopathy after a severe carbon monoxide poisoning with uncommon magnetic resonance imaging findings.
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Letter Randomized Controlled Trial Comparative Study
Comparison of exchange of laryngeal mask airway and Igel for tracheal tube using Eschmann Tracheal Tube Introducer during simulated resuscitation.
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Observational Study
Who is prescribing controlled medications to patients who die of prescription drug abuse?
Prescription drug-related fatalities remain a significant issue in the United States, yet there is a relative lack of knowledge on the specialty-specific prescription patterns for drug-related deaths. ⋯ Emergency physicians appear to provide fewer prescriptions to those patients who die due to prescription drugs. Emergency physicians do, however, account for a significant proportion of total providers in this study. These results highlight the need to use Prescription Drug Monitoring Program data to closely monitor prescription patterns and to intervene when necessary.